", "Patrick Henry was a patriot, and George Washington. Why was "The Ballot or the Bullet" important? This is meant to send a warning to the American government, cautioning them that African Americans are willin. Example: (Your, Youre\underline{\textit{You're}}Youre) surprised that I knew that Notah Begay won a PGA golf tournament in 1999. The Black Panther Party was organized in 1966 in California to combat police brutality, and it eventually spread to many other parts of the country. First he says, It. He accused the Democrats of playing a "political con game", with African Americans as its victims. The main aim of the speech is to urge African Americans to vote, and if they do not attain equality through voting, they can use violence to fight for their rights. Though he holds different religious beliefs from King and Powell, all three men are united by their prodigious work as civil rights advocates. More books than SparkNotes. It was ranked 7th in the top 100 American speeches of the 20th century by 137 leading scholars of American public address. X's purpose is to awaken the black . Some of them were Christians. As a result, they began to lose hope that non-violent intervention was a reasonable goal. Although he advocated exercising the ballot, Malcolm X expressed skepticism that voting would bring about full equality for African Americans. I'm not a Republican,", repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, repitition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next clause, using either a familiar object or idea to compare to a less familiar idea to help the listener/reader understand, OR using a well-accepted favorable idea to compare with a less-favorable one to gain audience approval or vice versa, contrast of ideas created through parallel construction of opposite words, phrases, or clauses, "Whether we are Christians or Muslims or nationalists or agnostics or atheists" (The Ballot or the Bullet). [25], One biographer notes that Malcolm was one of the first African-American leaders to note the existence and growing influence of Black nationalism among young civil rights activists.[26]. An old woman can sit. intentional repetition of 3 or more vowel sounds among nearby words. Second-class citizenship, such as is held by the African-American community, is tantamount to 20th-century slavery, says Malcolm. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. You don't throw your ballots until you see a target, and if that target is not within your reach, keep your ballot in your pocket. Malcolm X uses this device extensively in his speech, as it helps him illustrate points related to the Civil Rights Movement and the need to fight by any means necessary to promote Afric. Malcolm X delivered a powerful speech on April 3, 1964 at the Congress of Racial Equality in Cleveland, Ohio. I'm nonviolent with those who are nonviolent with me. Let it be the ballot or the bullet. Malcolm X was a fighter for civil rights. This speech is in the public domain. The political philosophy is self-government. These tools make The Ballot or the Bullet more memorable and help the speaker maintain his audiences attention. With the help of properly chosen stylistic means, Malcolm X was able to create a powerful speech and become a famous figure in American history. The uses emotional appeals are featured in paragraphs 11-14. At the same time, the speech indicated that Malcolm still supported Black nationalism and self-defense and thus had not made a complete break with his past. Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Carol Denise McNair were killed when a bomb detonated in Birmingham, Alabama, in the 16th Street Baptist Church on September 15, 1963. Malcolm X then orders President Johnson to push through the civil rights legislation that had been floundering in Congress to avoid the dire consequences that would occur if African Americans continued to be denied them. Malcolm wants the audiences to understand they have the power to change America or still continue to allow the government to control. Whenever you are going after something that is yours, you are within your legal rights to lay claim to it. Let the world know the hypocrisy that's practiced over here. Malcolm X maintained his use of repetition as "communications of the passion that is satisfied by a single statement, but that beats through the pulses",[27] and this can be exemplified by his consistent use of the phrase "the ballot or the bullet". "The Ballot or the Bullet" served several purposes at a critical point in Malcolm X's life: it was part of his effort to distance himself from the Nation of Islam, and it was intended to reach out to moderate civil rights leaders. ", "Not only is he a crook, he's a hypocrite. [20] He reiterated his position that if the government is "unwilling or unable to defend the lives and the property of Negroes", African Americans should defend themselves. Let him know that it must be the ballot or the bullet.. Rhetorical Analysis Of The Ballot Or The Bullet. Lerne mit deinen Freunden und bleibe auf dem richtigen Kurs mit deinen persnlichen Lernstatistiken. Insulting his listener is meant to stoke the listeners sense of anger and injustice, and therefore to provoke him into more direct action against white supremacy than the peaceful protests advocated for by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are able to do. In its advocacy of voting, "The Ballot or the Bullet" presented ideas opposite to those of the Nation of Islam, which forbade its members from participating in the political process. Instead of crying and be depressed with his lost, he continued to study. "They don't have to pass civil rights legislation to make a Polack an American," said Malcolm X "The Ballot or the Bullet," a speech he made on April 3, 1964, in Cleveland, Ohio. Lyndon B. Johnson is the head of the Democratic Party. Let it be the ballot or the bullet. In "The Ballot or the Bullet", Malcolm chose not to discuss religion but rather to stress the experiences common to African Americans of all backgrounds. Let the world know how bloody his hands are. Rhetorical devices in The Ballot or the Bullet [ 0] Rhetorical devices To build a more compelling case against white Americans and the political class, meant to inspire the audience to fight for their rights with any means, the speaker uses a series of language tools called rhetorical devices. Malcolm X emphasizes Black Nationalism as a way to help African Americans gain political, economic, and social control over their communities. If he waits too long he will be responsible for letting a condition develop in this country which will create a climate that will bring seeds up out of the ground with vegetation on the end of them looking like something these people never dreamed of. If the word is correct, write C./ Black people in America came together to receive motivation to fight for equality.In this speech Malcolm X inspires black people to take a stance and fight for their civil rights. ", a form of verbal irony generally intened as a witty insult. Instead, he was going to emphasize the common experience of African Americans of all faiths:[8]. Why did "The Ballot or the Bullet" alienate white Americans? It was the third bombing in 11 days after Birmingham received a federal order to integrate its schools. The mood oscillates between despair, anger, and hope. In this speech, Malcolm stresses the need for the population of African American voters to increase in order to fight for equality. Some were communists; some, Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity a, Thats camouflage, thats trickery, thats, Click here to study/print these flashcards. Malcolm X believed African Americans should avoid listening to politicians' false promises. "The Ballot or The Bullet" was a speech by Malcolm X mostly about black nationalism delivered April 12, 1964 in Detroit, Michigan. The black man is not born free, he is born in jail, victim of structural oppression and to the hypocrisy of a government that claims to represent the interests of all Americans. Then you wonder why where you live is always a ghetto or a slum area. Malcolm X noted that 1964 was an election year, a year "when all of the white political crooks will be right back in your and my community with their false promises which they don't intend to keep". Let the world know how bloody his [Uncle Sam's] hands are. What is Malcolm X's rhetorical strategy in The Ballot or the Bullet? Malcolm X: ( 06:52) The economic philosophy of Black Nationalism only means that we should own, and operate, and control the economy of our community. These cover over 30,000 members. 1483 Words6 Pages. $4.00. In 1964 there was going to be a presidential election. . Malcolm X begins "The Ballot or the Bullet" by announcing that he'll explain what he believes the next steps of the Civil Rights Movement should be. [5] He reassured leaders of the Civil Rights Movement that "I've forgotten everything bad that [they] have said about me, and I pray they can also forget the many bad things I've said about them."[7]. Malcolm X uses "if-then" statements and examples designed to evoke emotion to appeal to his audience. Due to the fear of severe punishment, blacks were scared to fight for equality; however, on April 3, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio, one brave soul finally did. In the speech, which was delivered on two occasions the first being April 3, 1964, at the Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio[1] and the second being on April 12th 1964 at the King Solomon Baptist Church, in Detroit, Michigan. Instead, he said, the Democrats blamed the Dixiecrats, who were "nothing but Democrat[s] in disguise". Antithesis refers to creating contrast between ideas, concepts, or people to maintain the audiences attention and to emphasize an idea thespeakersupports. A Summary View of the Rights of British America, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, Non Sum Qualis Eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae. Term Our faith is sure, our resolve is firm, and our union is strong. The current dispute mandate runs out on 6 May, and so the new ballot will run from 20 March until 9 May. "No, no, we are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down, In some ways, he was this town at its best-- strong, hard-. Civil Rights Activist, Malcolm X, in his speech "The Ballot or The Bullet" addressed the issue that the black community needs to take action about how the government treats them unfairly. The Ballot or the Bullet, Part 2 Summary and Analysis. True or False: Malcolm X believed African Americans should vote for whoever told them they would give them more rights. given on July 5, 1852. An old man can sit. Why did Malcolm X say was 1964 an important year for African Americans? intentional omission of a word or words that are readily implied by the context, intentional unconventional rearranging of word order to create an effect, create, study and share online flash cards, "realize that it is best for us to first see that we have the same problem, a common. Create flashcards in notes completely automatically. It means that when white people are evenly divided, and Black people have a bloc of votes of their own, it is left up to them to determine who's going to sit in the White House and who's going to be in the dog house. Malcolm X addressed the issue of "rifles and shotguns", a controversy that had dogged him since his March 8 announcement that he had left the Nation of Islam. Because election time is a time where the black community is taken advantage of; Malcolm X addresses the issue about the legislation civil rights with defines the right to guarantee the voting rights to the Negros within the states. So too will the black community win by force, and not by peaceful protest. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. What do we care about odds? Whereas the Civil Rights Movement advocated on behalf of integration and against segregation, the Nation of Islam favored separatism. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. ", "They don't hang you because you're a Baptist; they hang you 'CAUSE YOU'RE BLACK. Identify your study strength and weaknesses. For instance he describes the African population in America as "Africans who are in America." . True. The African-American community has enormous political power, Malcolm X claims, if they vote as one. [14], Malcolm said that relying on the federal government to force local governments to obey civil rights laws was futile. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. wordsthat inspire deeply negative or deeply positive reactions. Thesis: In The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X in his telling of his life to Alex Haley uncovers the theme of positive and negative environments unearthed by the interaction of African Americans and White Americans in his life and what those kinds of environments inherently produce. Right there it brings you down. It's time for us to submerge our differences and realize that it is best for us to first see that we have the same problem, a common problem a problem that will make you catch hell whether you're a Baptist, or a Methodist, or a Muslim, or a nationalist. The tone is provocative and righteous. Their eyes are coming open. For example, in the third paragraph of the excerpt, X strikes a blow at the government which [deprives the black community] of [their] voting rights, economic opportunities, housing, and, On April 12, 1964, Malcom X gives The Ballot or the Bullet speech at Cory Methodist Church in Detroit, Michigan. "The Ballot or the Bullet" is listed as one of the most important speeches Malcolm X ever gave because: One of them makes believe he's for you, and he's got it fixed where the other one is so tight against you, he never has to keep his promise. His name was Malcolm Little (known as Malcolm X), a widely acknowledged human rights activist. Imagine living in a world of segregation - constantly judged by color of ones skin and not being permitted to associate with the superior race. The Ballot or the Bullet Analysis Jasmine Grant Jackson State University By Any Means Necessary! [12], Black nationalism was characterized by its political, social, and economic philosophies. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, Emancipation from British Dependence Poem, Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral. was the black mans vote that put the present administration in Washington, D.C. It took decades for the men involved to be prosecuted as FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover, prevented their prosecution in 1968. He explains to the black community that they the government hold their rights to vote because the senators fear that if the Negros are allowed to vote those senators will become powerless. in "the Ballot or the Bullet" with Malcom X. what made the speaker qualified to give this speech. Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? White men won't even patronize you. He said that Black nationalists believe that African Americans should control the politics and the economy in their communities and that they need to remove the vices, such as alcoholism and drug addiction, that afflict their communities. Malcolm X's "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech was a powerful call to action for African Americans to take a more militant approach to the civil rights movement. "1 What, if anything, do you think Malcolm X hopes to accomplish by quoting Abraham Lincoln and Patrick Henry and establishing African American protests as legal according to the Supreme Court? Not affiliated with Harvard College. George Washington and Patrick Henry didnt win the American revolution, the soldiers did. The history of America is one of colonialism; Malcolm likens the colonists struggle against the British to that of African-Americans against white supremacy. The Nation of Islam, as led by Elijah Muhammed, forbade its members from participating in political processes. How does he use his beliefs to persuade a mixed audience about the importance of voting to African Americans? Earlier in the year, Malcolm X, once an outspoken follower of Elijah Muhammed, declared his separation from the Nation of Islam and realigned himself with the civil rights movement. Civil rights leaders questioned whether the messages in "The Ballot or the Bullet" were shared in the most effective manner. [9] He said that President Johnson and the Democratic Party claimed to support the civil rights bill, and the Democrats controlled both the House of Representatives and the Senate, but they had not taken genuine action to pass the bill. Southern Democrats had promised to oppose the bill. Test your knowledge with gamified quizzes. And anyone who puts forth any effort to deprive you of that which is yours, is breaking the law, is a criminal. The Ballot or the Bullet by Malcolm X: Rhetorical Analysis If you don't take this stand now your kids will grow up and think "shame" Rhetorical Strategies Malcolm X uses a lot of strong dialect . For example, the speaker uses sarcasm to suggest that European immigrants are better treated than African Americans: Everything that came out of Europe, every blue-eyed thing, is already an American., Repetition is one of Malcolm Xs favorite rhetorical devices. This was effective because he is making it known what the administration thinks about the African American vote; he hopes to make sure that they know and remember what the. Malcolm X fills his speech with imagery (mental images) that has a strong emotional impact, created with the help of metaphors and similes. Let him go in there right now and take a moral stand right now, not later. African Americans should be "re-educated into the science of politics" in order to understand the importance and effect of the vote they cast:[12]. Everything that came out of Europe, every blue-eyed thing, is already an American. "The Ballot or the Bullet," a famous civil rights speech delivered by Malcolm X Malcolm X religious beliefs had caused controversy within the Black community. The dollar is taken from the African-American community and given to outsiders. Will you pass the quiz? They're all in cahoots together". An analogy is a form ofcomparison through which a speaker wants to show similarities or differences between people and events. Besides, in Malcolm X biography, I learnt that, an extraordinary person has an extraordinary characteristics. Best study tips and tricks for your exams. Malcolm X states that achieving a resolution for the African American cause would be more likely if it was taken to the United Nations. Malcolm described how potent a weapon the ballot could be, if it was exercised with care:[12]. You can subscribe to whichever religious beliefs youd like, and remain a member of whichever civic organizations youd like. [5] The Nation of Islam, which advocated on behalf of African Americans, had significant disagreements with the Civil Rights Movement. [23], But, Malcolm said, there was still time to prevent this situation from developing:[23]. ", indicating your audience may suffer harm/negative consequence if they dont agree with you, "The year when all of the political white crooks will" (The Ballet or the Bullet), "All these Negro leaders have the audacity to go and have some coffee in the White House with a Texan, a Southern cracker" (The Ballot or the Bullet). Create beautiful notes faster than ever before. Malcolm X closes by defining his goal as a Black Nationalist who wants African Americans to gain political, economic, and social control over their communities. Analyzes how malcolm x's ballot or bullet speech was highly esteemed, despite dr. martin luther king being a pacifist and civil rights activist. parallelism "And until we become politically mature we will always be mislead, lead astray, or deceived or maneuvered into supporting someone politically who doesn't have the good of our community at heart." epistrophe "They don't hang you because you're a Baptist; they hang you 'CAUSE YOU'RE BLACK. _____Cole had all *ready *toasted the bagels by the time his parents woke up. He points out that if the government can't bring whoever killed "four little girls while they were praying" to justice, then it is either unwilling to help them or entirely incapable. If gaming the political system doesnt work, he recommends African-Americans turn to outright revolution. Malcolm X wa the leading black figure in the American Civil Rights movement advocating for a stronger even violent response to White American apathy of black rights. Stop procrastinating with our study reminders. He used ethos, pathos, and logos to gain the audience's trust and appeal to them both emotionally and logically, in order to inspire them to fight back. A chump can sit. In a speech on May 18, 1858, Abraham Lincoln said, "To give victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only are necessary. The title "The Ballot or the Bullet" has an underlining meaning. . In these opening paragraphs, Malcolm X calls for increased political participation and awareness in the black community. If the black community throws their support behind a single candidate, as they did behind Kennedy, that candidate will win. Malcolm X began his speech by analyzing his audience and declaring that it is time to decide whether to vote, With this discussion, he uses the appeal to pathos. The speech is among the top persuasive speeches of the 20th century. Ballot or the Bullet Ballot or the Bullet American Drama A Raisin in the Sun Aeschylus Amiri Baraka Antigone Arcadia Tom Stoppard August Wilson Cat on a Hot Tin Roof David Henry Hwang Dutchman Edward Albee Eugene O'Neill Euripides European Drama Fences August Wilson Goethe Faust Hedda Gabler Henrik Ibsen Jean Paul Sartre Johann Wolfgang von Goethe The white community is divided by its party affiliations, and as such, elections are often so close that there is cause for a recount. "The Ballot or the Bullet" is the title of a public speech by human rights activist Malcolm X.In the speech, which was delivered on two occasions the first being April 3, 1964, at the Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio and the second being on April 12th 1964 at the King Solomon Baptist Church, in Detroit, Michigan. He is not here today to discuss his relationship with God, but to speak about black nationalism. StudySmarter is commited to creating, free, high quality explainations, opening education to all. The. . A coward can sit. Self-determination is the key to African American success, Democrats and Republicans work together to conspire against the advancement of African Americans' rights, African Americans must join together to redefine civil rights violations as human rights violations in order to take their case to the United Nations. Nothing but Africans." Before this ultimatum could ever be proposed . Malcolm X uses a combination of logic and emotion to appeal to his audience. Unlike the 1963 March on Washington, which was peaceful and integrated, the 1964 march Malcolm described would be an all-Black "non-nonviolent army" with one-way tickets. Although their outspoken beliefs in self-defense and gun ownership branded them a militant group, they created much-needed social programs for their communities, such as health clinics and free breakfast programs. JCBEdPRO. 195196. Did Malcolm X believe the Democrats wanted to help African Americans achieve equal rights? I'm not here to try and change your religion. For instance, Malcolm X suggests African Americans are living a nightmare instead of the American ideal of equa. Human rights activist Malcolm X in his speech, "The Ballot or the Bullet" reiterates the injustice in America towards people of color and inspires the black community to use their power in numbers in the election (ballot) or if necessary by force (bullet). The Question and Answer section for The Ballot or the Bullet is a great Gradesaver has a complete summary of "The Ballot of the Bullet" speech readily available in its study guide for this unit. California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, and activists like Dennis Peron whose partner died of AIDS in 1990 played key roles in organizing the ballot measure. Instead of promoting peace to solve problems, Malcolm X used violence when necessary to get his points across to his audience. Malcolm X uses rhetorical techniques to persuade his audience to push for equality between races. Intentional repitition of the same grammatical structure, which may also include a repeated word or phrase, in the same structural position at least three times in nearby sentences or segments of a sentence. He states that African Americans continue to struggle because the Democrats and Republicans work together to deny African Americans their rights. ", "He made a chump out of you. Create the most beautiful study materials using our templates. ambitions so big they seemed Texas-boastful. Malcolm X juxtaposes black nationalism with the non-violent philosophy of advocates like Martin Luther King Jr., who favor peaceful protest, which Malcolm denounces as passive. Malcolm Xs speech was an effective example of pathetic because he understands the mindset that the audience is in, and knows what to say to excite them about his cause. The Question and Answer section for The Ballot or the Bullet is a great April 8, 2021; energy difference between n=1 and n=2 in joules. "my community with their false promises, building up our hopes for a letdown, with their, "As they nourish these dissatisfactions, it can only lead to one thing, an, It has talked and talked and talked the words of freedom, but it.